- May 19, 2009
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Hi,
I like the Light Sussex. They are based on the Wheaten allele. eWh/eWh S/S Co/Co . This formula means they have 2 copies of the Wheaten allele, 2 copies of the Silver gene and 2 copies of the Columbian gene. Why do we care? Silver Columbian birds built on the eb (Brown) allele require color balancing of the underfluff in order to create proper color in the top layer of plumage. In Wheaten based Silver Columbians this is not the case. The birds plumage is white to the skin and no balancing is necessary. This makes this variety an easy one for beginners. 2 copies of the Silver gene means the birds will not get a "brassy" cast to the white feathers due to feed or weather. 2 copies of the Columbian gene means the black is restricted to the neck, tail, and a small number of the wing feathers. This keeps the black out of the white body areas and creates a crisp clean look to the eye. Now it is possible to have black stippling appear in the white areas, however this is due to allowing too much black in the hackle rather then the allele upon which the variety is based.
Here is a nice 9 page treatise on the Light Sussex written long ago by a storied judge and breeder. One of 3 brothers by the same last name who were noted in the British poultry world, this author was a Judge for the Sussex Poultry Club and later when on to become President of the British Poultry Club. I love this little treatise and have read it often It is so applicable even today.
The Light Sussex.
By William White Broomhead
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003137332;view=1up;seq=5
By the way, this is one of my fav search libraries. Lots of great poultry info in it.
Easy to search and read in multiple formats. Note the other editor, W. Powell Owen,
I have found his writing very enlightening and educational.
I like the Light Sussex. They are based on the Wheaten allele. eWh/eWh S/S Co/Co . This formula means they have 2 copies of the Wheaten allele, 2 copies of the Silver gene and 2 copies of the Columbian gene. Why do we care? Silver Columbian birds built on the eb (Brown) allele require color balancing of the underfluff in order to create proper color in the top layer of plumage. In Wheaten based Silver Columbians this is not the case. The birds plumage is white to the skin and no balancing is necessary. This makes this variety an easy one for beginners. 2 copies of the Silver gene means the birds will not get a "brassy" cast to the white feathers due to feed or weather. 2 copies of the Columbian gene means the black is restricted to the neck, tail, and a small number of the wing feathers. This keeps the black out of the white body areas and creates a crisp clean look to the eye. Now it is possible to have black stippling appear in the white areas, however this is due to allowing too much black in the hackle rather then the allele upon which the variety is based.
Here is a nice 9 page treatise on the Light Sussex written long ago by a storied judge and breeder. One of 3 brothers by the same last name who were noted in the British poultry world, this author was a Judge for the Sussex Poultry Club and later when on to become President of the British Poultry Club. I love this little treatise and have read it often It is so applicable even today.
The Light Sussex.
By William White Broomhead
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003137332;view=1up;seq=5
By the way, this is one of my fav search libraries. Lots of great poultry info in it.
Easy to search and read in multiple formats. Note the other editor, W. Powell Owen,
I have found his writing very enlightening and educational.
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